Add Ten Gallons Concrete Podcast

On this episode of the Add 10 Gallons Concrete Podcast, hosts Joey and Paul discuss college football rivalries and innovations in the concrete industry, including electric concrete trucks and manufactured sand. They interview Scott Kelly, a prominent figure in the Southeast concrete industry, and discuss the challenges and experiences, emphasizing the importance of quality control and understanding concrete issues.

In this episode, Joey and Paul discuss college football blowouts, construction projects, and the global demand for sand and its environmental impact. They also discuss the Bell family's farming experiences and challenges. Later, Paul and Ali Biparva from Kryton International talk about waterproofing in concrete structures and the solutions offered by Kryton International. They cover topics such as the problems caused by water in concrete and using crystalline waterproofing admixtures to prevent water ingress and mitigate the effects of ASR and corrosion.

In this conversation, Paul and Joey discuss the dry-pour method of pouring concrete. They explore the process of pouring bagged concrete without mixing it in a wheelbarrow, instead pouring it directly into a form and adding water on top. They discuss the strength and durability of dry-pour concrete, as well as its limitations and applications. They also touch on the importance of proper curing and construction techniques. 

Then, Chris Davenport, President of Southern Concrete Machinery, discusses his experience as the first Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program graduate at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). He talks about the program's early days, the curriculum, and the industry focus group that put it together. Chris also shares his journey after graduation, including working for Master Builders Technologies and eventually joining Southern Concrete Machinery. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the concrete industry, the importance of efficiency and cleanliness in concrete plants, and the industry's future. Chris and Paul discuss the sales cycle for concrete plants and the importance of repeat customers. They also discuss the challenges faced during the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris shares his experience with different concrete plant brands and involvement with the CIM Patrons. They also mention the World of Concrete auction and the growth of the CIM program. The conversation ends with a discussion of the sales profession and the importance of being a self-starter.

In this episode, Joey and Paul discuss their experiences with ordering from Amazon and reveal the staggering number of orders their families have placed over the years. They also discuss the upcoming college football season and their expectations for their favorite teams. The conversation then shifts to discussing a Construction Dive article highlighting the increase in abandoned private construction projects. They speculate on the reasons behind this trend and question the accuracy of job numbers reported by the government.

Then, Ben Lentine of Heidelberg Materials discusses the transition to Type 1L cement and its associated challenges and successes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the materials and adjusting concrete mixes when using Type 1L cement. Ben also talks about the sustainability goals in the cement industry and the push towards more sustainable products. He mentions using environmental product declarations (EPDs) to measure cement and concrete's global warming potential (GWP). Ben shares his industry background and experience teaching principles of concrete at a community college. Paul and Joey discuss their love for college football video games and the recent release of the new game. They also talk about the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on recruiting in the game. The conversation then shifts to carbon reduction in the cement industry. They discuss the concept of global warming potential (GWP) and how it is measured through environmental product declarations (EPDs). They also explore the industry's future using blended cement and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

In this episode of the Add 10 Gallons Concrete Podcast, Joey and Paul discuss the potential of 3D-printed concrete homes and their benefits. They highlight the durability and energy efficiency of concrete homes and the potential to address housing affordability issues. The conversation references Thomas Edison's interest in concrete homes in the early 1900s and draws parallels to current advancements in 3D printing technology. While the cost of 3D-printed homes may currently be higher due to the novelty of the technology, the hosts believe that scaling up production could lead to more affordable options in the future. In this episode, Joey and Paul discuss different methods of 3D printing concrete houses and this technology's potential challenges and benefits. They also touch on the topic of working from home and the impact it has had on the construction industry. Paul shares his experience of changing a car battery for the first time and reflects on the importance of change management in preventing disasters like the Baltimore Bridge collapse.

Summary

After a year-long hiatus, the Add 10 Gallons Concrete Podcast is back. The hosts, Joey and Paul, catch up on what has happened in the concrete industry and their personal lives. They discuss Huber's acquisition of Active Minerals, their new customers and projects, and their travels worldwide. They also talk about the coaching changes in college football and the upcoming 12-team playoff. The hosts reminisce about the last NCAA football video game and express their excitement for the new game's forthcoming release and their personal gaming experiences. They also touch on the high cost of new gaming consoles and the trend of watching others play video games on platforms like YouTube. The conversation then transitions to the concrete industry, with Paul and Joey discussing the transition to 1L cement and the future use of calcined clay as a clinker replacement. They emphasize the importance of transparent communication and collaboration within the industry to ensure the successful implementation of these changes. The conversation also highlights the impressive growth of Smyrna Ready Mix through numerous acquisitions, as well as the impact of the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program in promoting diversity and opportunities for women in the industry. 

In this episode the Add 10 guys talk with Billy Ripple (Solutions Specialist at Command Alkon) about the importance of IT in the concrete industry. 

There have been huge advancements in technology within the concrete industry and Command Alkon has been at the tip of the spear with innovation, implementation, and communication. Billy comes on the podcast to discuss the inner workings of how technology gets developed and implemented, as well as what we can look forward to in the future. 

Billy also gives the listeners a unique perspective of someone who was generally interested in IT and found the concrete industry. Concrete needs people to be proficient in the IT field, while simultaneously being interested in the industry itself to bring it all together and provide optimal advancements.  The Add 10 guys talk about those very topics as well as implementing AI, working with large concrete powerhouses as well as smaller players, using data to your advantage, and of course Billy gives his best jobsite story. 

Enjoy! 

Billy Ripple:
https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?fetchDeterministicClustersOnly=true&heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAACGt0rMBrezrCONZ-Eq2iY1d0d1mDXwEojA&keywords=billy%20ripple&origin=RICH_QUERY_SUGGESTION&position=0&searchId=585ef90b-e40b-4c46-a68f-75eb885edd5f&sid=Ozy

Command Alkon:
https://commandalkon.com/

Acti-Gel 208:
https://activeminerals.com/products/acti-gel-208/

In this bonus content episode the Add 10 Guys talk about the political, economic, and industry struggles related to a port in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Vulcan owns it, Cemex uses it, and the Mexican Government is highly involved with it. 

This episode will take a deep dive into the players involved, their history, what this means for the concrete industry moving forward, and everything you need to be aware of. 

Enjoy! 

In this episode the guys talk about OSHA... it goes exactly how you think it would. Then Conor Cooper (Business Development - Ultra Low Carbon Concrete) joins the podcast to talk about Carbonbuilt's  XPRIZE-winning technology that reduces concrete’s embodied carbon by 70% to over 100%. Paul and Josh ask pressing questions regarding Carbon Credits, sustainability of resources, viability of eco-friendly technology, and more. This episode is sure to teach you something. 

https://carbonbuilt.com/
https://activeminerals.com/products/acti-gel-208/
 

Joey joins the podcast to catch up with Paul and Josh to put a bow on the 2023 edition of the ConExpo. Joey asks some great questions about the show from a perspective of someone who wasn't able to attend this year. The guys talk about the best parts of the show and what can be improved, as well as what the industry can look forward to in 2026 for the next edition of ConExpo. 

Enjoy!